Real Madrid have reportedly identified Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva as a potential transfer target.
Since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2017, Silva has enjoyed an impressive stint with City, contributing 50 goals and 56 assists from his 276 appearances in all competitions.
However, during the summer, there was frequent speculation regarding the Portugal international's future, the suggestion being that he was open to taking on a fresh challenge.
Although a move to Barcelona or another top European club failed to materialise, the 28-year-old acknowledged earlier this week that he had no plans to sign a new deal with City in the future.
Speaking to Record, Silva said: "I'm very focused on this season and it doesn't make sense to talk about leaving because we're in the middle of the season. I won't hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project.
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"Going into a new project at the age of 29, I'll only finish this contract probably at 34. If you ask me: what did you think 10 years ago? My goal was to return to Benfica at the age of 32 at the most. What do I think today? It depends on what happens next summer.
"I'm not going to lie, it's not something I don't think about. I think about it every year. It has always been a goal."
Joan Laporta has since insisted that Barcelona have no plans to pay "an astronomical fee" for the playmaker, effectively ruling the Catalan giants out of the running for the time being.
Nevertheless, according to Sport, Real will give consideration to trying to secure a deal for Silva in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
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Despite Silva due to turn 29 years of age by the start of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign, it is suggested that Los Blancos may be willing to part ways with £80m to complete a transfer.
Real have recently made a habit of signing younger players, only choosing to bring in defender Antonio Rudiger due to his status as a free agent.
Jude Bellingham is also being tipped to move to the Bernabeu for in excess of £100m next summer, but Eden Hazard is expected to leave the Spanish giants, freeing up space on the wage bill.
Silva currently has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract, with his recent quotes theoretically leaving City in a position to assess when the most appropriate time would be to consider cashing in on a player who is in his sixth season in Manchester.
Darren Plant
